Drawer rail

ABSTRACT

A drawer rail is used on a table having bottom and a drawer below the bottom of the table with a sidewall, and has a rail device, an auto-returning device and a buffering device. The rail device is mounted with the table and has an inner track attached on the table and having a mounting board and a connecting board and an outer track engaged with the connecting board and immovably attached on the sidewall of the drawer. The auto-returning device is mounted on the rail device and has a base mounted on the connecting board and having an elongated groove, a sliding block movably mounted on the base and a spring mounted in the base. The buffering device is mounted with the auto-returning device, is used to reduce the returning force of the spring and has a jacket and a drive shaft connected with the sliding block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drawer rail, and more particularly relates to a drawer rail that can reduce the returning force when the drawer rail is returned to an original place.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, when a drawer is not closed completely, insects or dusty may get into the drawer. To keep a drawer closed completely when not in use, an auto-returning device with a spring is mounted on a drawer rail to provide an auto-returning restituting efficiency to the drawer. However, a conventional auto-returning device has a complex structure composed of multiple elements and has a high production cost with result in a high overall price for such a drawer.

Therefore, consumers do not choose the drawer having the auto-returning device based on a consideration of the high price. Additionally, the conventional auto-returning device is not stable in use to cause the drawer to derail easily, such that the auto-returning device have to be recombined with the drawer and this is inconvenience to the user.

Furthermore, the spring of the conventional auto-returning device usually provide a strong force to pull the drawer back, but this force may gets someone hurt and the drawer may be destroyed after a long time of use. Then, the useful life of the drawer will be shortened due to the pulling force provided by the conventional auto-returning device.

Therefore, the invention provides a drawer rail to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a drawer rail that can reduce the returning force provide by a spring when the drawer rail is returned to an original place.

The drawer rail is used on a table having bottom and a drawer below the bottom of the table with a sidewall, and has a rail device, an auto-returning device and a buffering device. The rail device is mounted with the table and has an inner track attached on the table and having a mounting board and a connecting board and an outer track engaged with the connecting board and immovably attached on the sidewall of the drawer. The auto-returning device is mounted on the rail device and has a base mounted on the connecting board and having an elongated groove, a sliding block movably mounted on the base and a spring mounted in the base. The buffering device is mounted with the auto-returning device, is used to reduce the returning force of the spring and has a jacket and a drive shaft connected with the sliding block.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a drawer rail in accordance with the present invention and mounted on a table;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged perspective view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6A is an operational side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is another operational side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7B is an enlarged side view in partial section of the drawer rail in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a drawer rail in accordance with the present invention is used on a table (40) having a bottom and a drawer below the bottom of the table (40) with a sidewall, and comprises a rail device (10), an auto-returning device (20) and a buffering device (30).

The rail device (10) is mounted with the table (40) and has an inner track (11) and an outer track (12). The inner track (11) of the rail device (10) may be L-shaped, is immovably attached on the table (40) and has a mounting board (13) and a connecting board (14). The mounting board (13) is attached on the bottom of the table (40). The connecting board (14) is formed vertically with the mounting board (13) and has an inner surface and may have multiple hooks (141) protruded up from the inner surface of the connecting board (14).

The outer track (12) of the rail device (10) is slidably engages with the connecting board (14) of the inner track (11) and immovably attached on the sidewall of the drawer and has an inner edge and a pushing post (121) and an optional ball bearing race. The ball bearing race is clamped between the outer track (12) and the connecting board (14) for smooth movement of the outer track (12) relative to the inner track (11). The inner edge of the outer track (12) is faced to the mounting board (13). The pushing post (121) is mounted on the inner edge of the outer track (12) and protrudes to the inner surface of the connecting board (14).

With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the auto-returning device (20) is mounted on the rail device (10) and has a base (21), a sliding block (22) and a spring (23). The base (21) is substantially semicircle-shaped, is mounted on the connecting board (14) of the inner track (11) and has an inner open side, a front end, a rear end opposite to the front end, a top, a bottom, an optional mounting slab (211), an optional engaging block (212), a recess (24), an optional engaging seat (25) and an elongated groove (26).

The inner open side of the base (21) is contacted to the inner surface of the connecting board (14). The mounting slab (211) is formed in the front end of the base (21), is engaged with one of the hooks (141) in the connecting board (14). The engaging block (212) is protruded from the rear end of the base (21), is engaged with one of the hooks (141) of the connecting board (14).

The recess (24) is defined in the base (21) near the bottom, extends from the front end to the rear end and has a rear end, a front end, a bottom, an optional connecting recess (241) and an optional concave (242). The connecting recess (241) is defined in the rear end of the recess (24) near the engaging block (212) and communicates with the recess (24). The concave (242) is defined in the bottom of the recess (24) near the front end and communicates with the recess (24).

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the engaging seat (25) is formed on the top of the base (21) between the rear end and the front end of the recess (24) and has a front edge and an engaging groove (251). The engaging groove (251) is formed through the front edge of the engaging seat (25).

The elongated groove (26) may be L-shaped, is defined in the base (21) over the recess (24) between the engaging seat (25) and the mounting slab (211) and has a long end and a short end. The long end of the elongated groove (26) is formed transversely over the recess (24). The short end of the elongated groove (26) is formed between the mounting slab (211) and the front end of the base (21).

With further reference to FIG. 6A, the sliding block (22) is movably mounted on the base (21) and has an inner side, an outer side, an optional inclined bottom, an optional rear face, a top face, two optional extending portions (221), an optional mounting hole (222), an optional inserting slice (223), an optional mounting post (224) and a limiting cutout (225).

The inner side of the sliding block (22) is contacted to the inner surface of the connecting board (14). The outer side of the sliding block (22) is faced to the inner open side of the base (21). The inclined bottom of the sliding block (22) may engaged with the concave (242) of the recess (24).

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 6A and 7A, the extending portions (221) are protruded from the outer side of the sliding block (22) and extended into the elongated groove (26) of the base (21). The mounting hole (222) is formed through the sliding block (22) near the inclined bottom and faces to the connecting recess (241) of the recess (24). The inserting slice (223) is formed on the rear face of the sliding block (22) above the mounting hole (222) and may be inserted into the engaging groove (251) of the engaging seat (25).

The mounting post (224) is protruded from the outer side of the sliding block (22) above the inserting slice (223). With further reference to FIG. 6A, the limiting cutout (225) is defined in the top face of the sliding block (22) to accommodate the pushing post (121) inside, when the outer track (12) is moved relative to the inner track (1), the pushing post (121) will push the sliding block (22) move forward to the front end of the recess (24). When the inclined bottom of the sliding block (22) is engaged with the concave (242), the pushing post (121) of the outer track (12) will be moved away from the limiting cutout (225) of the sliding block (22) as shown in FIG. 7A.

The spring (23) is defined in the recess (24), is connected between the recess (24) and the sliding block (22) to pull the sliding block (22) and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the spring (23) is attached into the mounting hole (222) of the sliding block (22). The second end of the spring (23) is mounted in the connecting recess (241) of the recess (24).

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the buffering device (30) is mounted with the auto-returning device (20) and has a jacket (31) and a drive shaft (32). The jacket (31) is hollow, is securely mounted on the top of the base (21) between the engaging block (212) and the engaging seat (25) and has a front open end, an optional rear open end, an inner surface, an optional cover (311) and a leaking groove (312).

The cap (311) is attached to the rear open end of the jacket (31) to prevent air leaking from the rear open end of the jacket (31). The leaking groove (312) is formed radially in the inner surface of the jacket (31) to allow air to flow into the front open end of the jacket (31).

The drive shaft (32) is movably mounted in the jacket (31), is connected with the sliding block (22) and has an inner end, an outer end, an optional connecting hole (321), a drive head (33) and a sealing ring (34). The inner end of the drive shaft (32) is extended into the jacket (31) from the front open end of the jacket (31). The outer end of the drive shaft (32) is extended out of the front open end of the jacket (31) and is connected to the sliding block (22). The connecting hole (321) is formed through the outer end of the drive shaft (32), and the mounting post (224) of the sliding block (22) is extended into the connecting hole (321) to connect the drive shaft (32) with the sliding block (22).

With reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6B, the drive head (33) is movably mounted in the jacket (31), is mounted securely with the drive shaft (32) and has an optional front slab (332), an optional connecting rod (331) and an optional rear slab (333). The front slab (332) of the drive head (33) is connected with the inner end of the drive shaft (32). The connecting rod (331) is connected with the front slab (332) and has an outer surface and an allowing groove (3311). The allowing groove (3311) is formed radially in the outer surface of the connecting rod (331). The rear slab (333) is connected to the connecting rod (331) opposite to the front slab (332) and has two through grooves (3331). The through grooves (3331) are formed separately in the rear slab (333) and one of the through grooves (3331) communicates with the allowing groove (3311) in the connecting rod (331) and the leaking groove (312) in the jacket (31).

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6B and 7B, the sealing ring (34) is movably mounted around the connecting rod (331) and contacted with the inner surface of the jacket (31).

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the outer track (12) is not moved relative to the inner track (11), the pushing post (121) is engaged in the limiting cutout (225) of the sliding block (22). The drive head (33) is located near the cap (311) and the sealing ring (34) is mounted around the connecting rod (331) of the drive head (33).

When the drawer is opened, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the outer track (12) will be moved relative to the inner track (11) of the rail device (10) and the pushing post (121) will pull the sliding block (22) to move along the elongated groove (26) to the short end. The outer track (12) will further move forward when the pushing post (121) escapes from the limiting cutout (225) when the inclined bottom of the sliding block (22) is engaged with the concave (242). The drive shaft (32) will move with the sliding block (22) and the sealing ring (34) will be moved to contact with the rear slab (333) by the friction between the inner surface of the jacket (31). The spring (23) is expanded when the sliding block (22) is moved. Air outside the buffering device (30) will flow into the jacket (31) from the front open end and through the allowing groove (3311) and the corresponding through groove (3331) into the rear open end of the jacket (31).

After user pushing the drawer back to the table (40), the sliding block (22) will be moved back to the long end of the elongated groove (26) by the pushing post (121) engaging with the limiting cutout (255). Meanwhile, air inside the jacket (31) will be compressed between the rear slab (333) and the cap (311) by the sealing ring (34) moving to contact with the front slab (332) and stopping air flowing into the front open end of the jacket (31) from the allowing groove (3311) of the connecting rod (331). Then, the compressed air will provide a damping effect to the drive head (33) and the drive shaft (32) to reduce the returning force of the spring (23) and prevent the drawer from being destroyed after a long time or hurting any person near the drawer. Furthermore, when the drive head (33) is moved to approach the leaking groove (312) of the jacket (31), the compressed air will flow out the jacket (31) from the front open end as shown in FIG. 6B.

The drawer rail in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The drawer rail can close the drawer with the table (40) completely and automatically by means of the returning force provided by the spring (23) for pulling the sliding block (22) of the auto-returning device (20) to abut against the engaging seat (25). Therefore, to close the drawer to the table (40) is convenient even when hands of a user are not free and to prevent insects or dusty from entering into the drawer.

2. To assemble the drawer rail between a table (40) and a drawer is easy, and the drawer rail is convenient in manufacturing and versatile in use.

3. The buffering device (30) of the drawer rail can provide a damping effect to against the returning force that provided by the spring and prevent the returning force from getting someone hurt and the drawer being destroyed after a long time of use. Then, the useful life of the drawer will be prolonged.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A drawer rail used on a table having a bottom and a drawer below the bottom of the table with a sidewall, and the drawer rail having a rail device adapted to be mounted with the table and having an inner track being adapted to attach immovably on the table and having a mounting board adapted to be attached on the bottom of the table; and a connecting board formed with the mounting board and having an inner surface; and an outer track being slidably engaged with the connecting board of the inner track, adapted to be attached immovably on the sidewall of the drawer and having an inner edge being faced to the mounting board; and a pushing post mounted on the inner edge of the outer track and protruding to the inner surface of the connecting board; an auto-returning device being mounted on the rail device and having a base being mounted on the connecting board of the inner track and having an inner open side contacting with the inner surface of the connecting board; a front end; a rear end opposite to the front end; a top; a bottom; a recess being defined in the base near the bottom, extending from the front end to the rear end; and an elongated groove being defined in the base over the recess; a sliding block being movably mounted on the base and having an inner side contacting with the inner surface of the connecting board; an outer side being faced to the inner open side of the base; a top face; and a limiting cutout being defined in the top face of the sliding block to accommodate the pushing post inside; and a spring mounted in the recess and connected between the recess and the sliding block to pull the sliding block; and a buffering device being mounted with the auto-returning device and having a jacket being hollow, being securely mounted on the top of the base and having a front open end; an inner surface; and a leaking groove being formed radially in the inner surface of the jacket to allow air to flow into the front open end of the jacket; and a drive shaft being movably mounted in the jacket, being connected with the sliding block and having an inner end extending into the jacket from the front open end of the jacket; an outer end extending out from the front open end of the jacket and being connected to the sliding block; a drive head being movably mounted in the jacket and being mounted securely with the drive shaft; and a sealing ring being movably mounted around the drive head and contacting with the inner surface of the jacket.
 2. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner track of the rail device is L-shaped and the connecting board is formed vertically with the mounting board.
 3. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer track further has a ball bearing race being clamped between the outer track and the connecting board.
 4. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting board further has multiple hooks protruded from the inner surface; and the base is semicircle-shaped and further has a mounting slab being formed ion the front end of the base and being engaged with one of the hooks in the connecting board; and an engaging block being protruded from the rear end of the base and being engaged with one of the hooks of the connecting board.
 5. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess has a rear end; a front end; a bottom; a connecting recess being defined in the rear end of the recess and communicating with the recess; and a concave being defined in the bottom of the recess near the front end and communicating with the recess; the sliding block further has an inclined bottom selectively engaging with the concave of the recess; and a mounting hole being formed through the sliding block near the inclined bottom and facing to the connecting recess of the recess; and the spring further has a first end being mounted in the mounting hole of the sliding block; and a second end being mounted in the connecting recess of the recess.
 6. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base further has an engaging seat being mounted on the top of the base between the rear end and the front end of the recess and having a front edge; and an engaging groove being formed through the front edge of the engaging seat; and the sliding block further has a rear face; an inserting slice being formed on the rear face of the sliding block and selectively inserted into the engaging groove of the engaging seat.
 7. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated groove further has a long end being formed transversely over the recess; and a short end being formed near the front end of the base; and the sliding block further has two extending portions protruded from the outer side of the sliding block and being extended into the elongated groove between the long end and the short end of the base.
 8. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding block further has a mounting post protruding from the outer side of the sliding block above the inserting slice; the drive shaft further has a connecting hole being formed in the outer end of the drive shaft and being connected with the mounting post of the sliding block.
 9. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jacket has a rear open end; and a cover being connected to the rear open end of the jacket.
 10. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive head further has a front slab being connected with the inner end of the drive shaft; a connecting rod being connected with the front slab and having an outer surface; and an allowing groove being formed radially in the outer surface of the connecting rod; and a rear slab being connected to the connecting rod opposite to the front slab and having two through grooves being formed separately in the rear slab, and one of the through grooves communicating with the allowing groove of the connecting rod and the leaking groove in the jacket.
 11. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer track further has a ball bearing race being clamped between the outer track and the connecting board.
 12. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connecting board further has multiple hooks protruding from the inner surface; and the base is semicircle-shaped and further has a mounting slab being formed on the front end of the base and being engaged with one of the hooks in the connecting board; and an engaging block protruding from the rear end of the base and being engaged with one of the hooks of the connecting board.
 13. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 12, wherein the recess has a rear end; a front end; a bottom; a connecting recess being defined in the rear end of the recess and communicating with the recess; and a concave being defined in the bottom of the recess near the front end and communicating with the recess; the sliding block further has an inclined bottom selectively engaging with the concave of the recess; and a mounting hole being formed through the sliding block near the inclined bottom and facing to the connecting recess of the recess; and the spring further has a first end being mounted in the mounting hole of the sliding block; and a second end being mounted in the connecting recess of the recess.
 14. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 13, wherein the base further has an engaging seat being mounted on the top of the base between the rear end and the front end of the recess and having a front edge; and an engaging groove being formed through the front edge of the engaging seat; and the sliding block further has a rear face; an inserting slice being formed on the rear face of the sliding block and selectively inserted into the engaging groove of the engaging seat.
 15. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elongated groove further has a long end being formed transversely over the recess; and a short end being formed near the front end of the base; and the sliding block further has two extending portions protruding from the outer side of the sliding block and being extended into the elongated groove between the long end and the short end of the base.
 16. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sliding block further has a mounting post protruding from the outer side of the sliding block above the inserting slice; the drive shaft further has a connecting hole being formed in the outer end of the drive shaft and being connected with the mounting post of the sliding block.
 17. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 16, wherein the jacket has a rear open end; and a cover being connected to the rear open end of the jacket.
 18. The drawer rail as claimed in claim 17, wherein the drive head further has a front slab being connected with the inner end of the drive shaft; a connecting rod being connected with the front slab and having an outer surface; and an allowing groove being formed radially in the outer surface of the connecting rod; and a rear slab being connected to the connecting rod opposite to the front slab and having two through grooves being formed separately in the rear slab, and one of the through grooves communicating with the allowing groove of the connecting rod and the leaking groove in the jacket. 